Mobile and dirigible toy



March 1932- J. D. MORGAN 7 MOBILE AND DIRIGIBLE TOY Filed Jan. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 8, 1932. J. D. MORGAN 1,848,373

MQBRILE AND DIRIGIBLE TOY Filed Jan. 29', 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES .J'OHN D. EORGAIT, OF SUMMIT, NEW JEBSE? MOBILE AND DIBIGIIBLE TOY Application filed January 29, 1931. Serial No. 511,988.

The invention relates to novel and useful improvements in toys and more especially to such improvements in mobile, dirig ble toys.

Objects and advantages ofthe invention 5 will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations 1 pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists'in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and dedescribed.

The accompanyin drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

20 Of the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on hne 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on hue 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of said embodiment.

The invention is directed to providing a mobile, dirigible tov wherein the swinging or undulant motion of the child seated on a movable, and preferably resiliently mounted seat imparts a forward propulsive movement to the device. Steering means are provided adjacent to the seat, and arranged so that the child will have complete dirigible control of the traveling device, notwithstanding the free movement of the seat.

The invention provides further, in certain preferred aspects thereof, a mobile, dirigible device approximating very naturally for the child rider the progress and movements of a pacing or galloping horse. In embodying these features of my invention, in a preferred form, the progress and movement are effected by the motion of the rider, mounted in a movable and preferably resiliently mounted seat, the steering means, adjacent the seat, being preferably constituted to simulate the rein action of a rider. Thus the combined undulant forward movement, especially when accompanied with rein-like action of the steering hold, simulates in a most lifelike manner the actual motion experienced in horseback riding. Both the swingin and forward propulsive movements are e ected by the motion of the child in the seat, and thus the speed and vigor of the motion is naturally automatically adapted to the age. weight and temperament of the individual child. Certain of-the other advantages of the invention will be set forth in connection with the appendant detailed description.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the. accompanying drawings, a base 1 is provided supported upon wheels. A pair of rear wheels 2 and 3 are fixed on an axle 4, mounted in bearings 50, carried on a pair of bracket members 60, fixed to the rear end of frame 1, and located sufficiently to the rear to prevent backward tipping of the device. In accordance with certain features of the invention, the forward propulsion is effectedby means of the forwardly-directed component of the motion of the child upon the seat.

The parts may be proportioned and disposed so that the motion of the seat and child will effect a strong forward propulsive movement, without the necessity of mechanical driving connections to the wheels. In a, modification described later herein, positive means for forwardly propelling the device are provided, if and when the use thereof is found desirable. Should it be found desirable to prevent retrograde movement of the device, means for effecting this are provided, and as shown the ratchet wheel 5 is fixed on the shaft 4, a pivoted pawl 6 cooperating therewith. This mechanism can also be utilized to prevent the device from rolling backwardly down hill should the child stop swinging while going up grade. The pawl 6 may be thrown out of action by moving it upwardly and slipping it behind the pivoted detent 7.

The forward wheels, in the present embodiment, are constructed and mounted to steer the device. As embodied, a pair of wheels 11 and 12 are mounted u on the cylindrical ends 13 and 14 of a prefera ly square axle15. Ar-

ranged above and fixed to the axle 15 is a hollow inverted supporting plate 16, which 15 fixed to the axle by bolts 17 and 18, so as to provide a space above the axleand inside the plate. Resting upon the top surface of the plate 16 is a bearing plate 21, which is let into the base 1, so as to be held in fixed position with reference thereto. A king bolt 22 has its head 23 within the recess between plate 16 and the axle 15, and the bolt passes upwardly through the plate 21 and the base 1. On the upper face of the base 1 is a washer 23', and above it a collar 24 is secured on the king bolt 22 by a driven pin 25. The king pin is thereby held in position, and the plate 16, the axle and front wheels support the base 1, but are rotatable with reference to it and the bearin plate 21, for the purpose of steering the evice. The steering connections which are operated by the rider will be later 25 described.

The preferred form of mounting for the child comprises along and strong rearwardlyextendingresilient bar 29, preferably of steel.-

The forward end of the bar 29 is fixed to the 30 forward end of the base 1, and is covered by a three-sided cap-plate 30, which covers the bar and the front end of the base, and is fastened in place upon the base 1 by bolts 31 and 32. A bolt 33 passes through the face of the cap plate 30, through the spring bar 29, and the base 1. The childs seat, preferably in the form of a saddle 37, is fastened upon the rear end of spring bar 29 and a horse s head 38 is preferably fixed upon the bar directly in front of the saddle in approximately the natural relation of horse and rider. A foot rest 39 is supported by the bar 29, and may be located to give the desired posture for the child, and it mag be adjustable, if desired, for children of di erent sizes, or to change the position of a child.

The embodied form of means for steering the device are preferably designed to simuseat 37, and above the horses neck and approximately in the position of the reins, has

handles 44 and 45 at either side, and preferably reins 46 are fastened thereto and to the horses bit, preferably approximately in the rein-holding position of a rider. The cross late the motion of a going horse and its rider.- As embodied, a cross-bar 43, adjacent to the and is preferably apertured to permit the mounting of the steering device.

As further embodied, a cross-bar 51 is fixed on the lower end of thegod 47, to rotate therewith, and the upper ends of steerin rods 52 and 53 are mounted in the two en s of the cross bar 51, so as to have requisite pla during the swinging movement of the bar 9, but have at the same time requisite angular governance of the steering movement of the front wheels. The lower ends of the steering rods 52 and 53 are mounted, respectively, in bracket plates 55 and 56 encircling and fixed to the square axleel5, the lower ends of the rods passing through free-play apertures in projecting plates, which are integral with, and extend out from, the brackets 55 and 56. The connections between the cross bar 51, the bracket plates 55 and 56, with the top and bottom ends, respectively, of the steering rods 52 and 53, are so constructed as, and have sufficient loose play, to permit of the swinging movement of the child with the bar 29, and of .the horizontal pivotal movement of the rod 47, while at the same time giving proper control of the steering action or movement. As embodied, the apertures in the cross-rod or plate 51 permit of considerable play for the upper end of the rod 52 and 53. Collars 61 and 62 are fixed to the upper end of the steering rods. in spaced apart relation, so as to permit of requisite longitudinal play of the rod ends with respect to the cross bar. There is likewise free play for the lower ends of the rods 52 and 53 in the bracket plates 55 and 56, and fixed to the lower ends of these rods, respectively, are collars 63 on the lower sides of the plates 55 and 56, and on the upper sides of the plates are loose washers 64, upon which rest pins 65 passing through the ends of the rods respectively. This gives the requisite lateral and longitudinal play to allow for the motion of the rider with respect to the base 1, while at the same time giving the necessary angular motion and control of the steering mechanism.

In the preferred embodied form of positive drive for the device by the motion of the driver, the weight and inertia of the rider during the descending movement are utilized to store power in a resilient device which then acts also preferably resiliently to drive the device, thereby avoiding shock either to the rider or to the mechanism. In said embodiment, a lever 71 is pivotally mounted at 72 upon upwardly projecting standards 73 and 74, fixed to the base 1. The upper arm of the lever 71 is provided witha resilient roller 75. Beneath this arm of lever 71 is a helical compression spring 79, resting in a cup 80, fixed upon the base 1, and with its upper end nested in a cup 81, pivoted at 82, to

the arm of the lever 71. The other end of the lever 71 is pivoted at 83 to a connecting rod 84, which is ivoted at 85 toa pawlcarrying arm 86 oosely journaled on the shaft 4. Fixed on the shaft 4 is a ratchet gages with the roller 7 and compresses the spring 79 by resilient action without shock. When the bar 29 and the rider swing upwardly the spring 7 9 will resiliently swing the lever 71, and pawl 88 will drive the ratchet wheel 87 and the wheels 2 and 3 forwardly.

' By proportioning the arms of lever 71, or by rendering the length of the arms variable or adjustable, in a well-known manner, the relative speed and forward propulsive force may be re lated and varied as desired.

The desirability of the device as a toy will be enhanced, for some children, at least, by providing a complete sheet metal body of a horse, appropriately colored and marked, and enclosing the mechanism therein, and mounting the horse upon the spring 29. Such an arrangement is contemplated by the present invention'when found desirable to increase its use or enjoyment from the viewpoint ofthe child.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principlesof the invention and without sacrific ing its chief advantages. v

What I claim is 1. A mobile, dirigible toy including in combination a base,wheels on which the base is .mounted, at least one of said wheels being movable to steer the device, a long, rearwardly extending resilient member ,mounted on the base, a seat mounted on the resilient member, and means adjacent the seat for moving at least one of said wheels to steer the device. I

2. A mobile, dirigible toy including in combination a base, wheels on which the\ base is mounted, at least one of said wheels being movable to steer' the device, a long, rearwardly extending resilient member mounted on the base. a seat mounted on the resilient member, and means moving with the seat for moving at least one of said wheels to steer the device. I

3. A mobile, dirigible toy including in combination a base, wheels on which the base is mounted, at least one of'said wheels being movable to steer the device, a long, rearwardl v extending resilient member mounted on the base, a seat mounted on the resilient member, means adjacent the seat for moving at least one of said wheels to steer the device and means for preventing rearward turning of at least one wheel.

4. A mobile, dirigible toy including in combination a base, wheels on which the base is mounted, at least one of said wheels being movable to steer the device, a long, rearwardly extending resilient member mounted on the base, a seat mounted on the resilient member, means adjacent the seat for moving at least one of said wheels to steer the device and means for preventing rearward turning of at least one non-steering wheel.

5. A mobile, dirigible toy including in combination a base, wheels on which the base is mounted, at least one of said wheels being movable to steer the device, a long, rearwardly extending resilient bar mounted on the base, a foot rest mounted on the bar, a seat mounted'on the resilient member, and means adjacent the seat for moving at least one of said wheels to steer the device.

6. A mobile, dirigible toy including in combination a base, front and rear wheels on which the base is mounted, a long, rearwardly extending resilient bar mounted on the base, a seat mounted on the resilient member, and means adjacent the seat for moving a fron wheel to steer the device.

7 A mobile, dirigible toy including in combination a base, front and rear wheels on which the base is mounted, a long, rearwardly extending resilient bar mounted on the base, a seat mounted on the resilient member, meansadjacent the seat for moving a front wheel to steer the device, and means acting on a rear wheel to prevent rearward rotation thereof.

8. A mobile, dirigible toy including in combination a base, wheels on which the base is i on the resilient member, and means unconnected with but placed under spring tension by the swinging bar and rider for forwardly propelling the device.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to'this specification.

JOHN D. MORGAN. 

